Ink supply



July 14, 1964 1.. K. DAVIS ETAL INK SUPPLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept.11, 1962 FIG. II

INVENTOR LINCOLN K. DAVIS DAVID G.McLELLAND July 14, 1964 L. K. DAVISETAL INK SUPPLY s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11 1962 INVENTOR LINCOLNK.DAVIS DAVID G. McLELLAND AGENT July 14, 1964 L. K. DAVIS ETAL INKSUPPLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 11 1962 FIG. 1

INVENTOR LINCOLN K. DAVIS DAVD G.Mc.LELLAND AGENT United States Patent 13,140,912 INK SUPPLY Lincoln K. Davis, South Easton, and David G.McLelland, Canton, Mass, assignors to The Foxhoro Company, Foxboro,Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Sept. 11, 1962, Ser. No.222,811 3 Claims. (Cl. 346-140) This invention relates to industrialinstrumentation, and to chart recorders used therein. More specifically,this invention relates to the inking feature of such recorders and toink supply systems therefor.

A continuous, efiicient, simple and practical ink supply system is avery important adjunct to modern chart recorders. With manyinstallations involving many recorders, inspection, service, andreplacement must necessarily be simple and trouble free.

This invention provides a new and improved ink supply system to obviateprior art difficulties and to meet modern needs.

In the inking system of this invention, means is provided for easy andclean start-up action, without ink spilling or loss, and this isaccomplished through improved construction and maneuverability of theink supply devices and mechanisms.

Specifically, an ink packet is provided which is flexible and squeezablefor inking start-up without the extra care usually necessary, since fullforce squeezing may be used without ink spilling or loss, even if theink packet is not fully closed off at the time. An ink packet which isthin, and wide, is provided for this purpose.

Further, maximum diassembly and ease of assembly and disassembly of theinking system is provided in conjunction with maximum maneuverability,for example, as may be provided by universal movement.

Further, a highly eflicient system is provided for mounting, using, andservicing a plurality of ink supplies in one recorder with maximum frontvisibility and maximum accessibility, for instance in a multi-colorrecording system.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a new andimproved ink supply system for chart recorders in industrialinstrumentation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be in part apparentand in part pointed out hereinafter and in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a generally schematic representation of the overall inkingsupply system according to this invention;

FIGURE II is a detail exploded view of the main structure of the inksupply and operational supports with respect thereto, according to thisinvention, and as generally indicated in FIGURE I;

FIGURE III is a detailed showing of ink and vent passage end formationfor perforation of an ink supply packet in the operation of assembly ofa new packet to the system;

FIGURE IV is an enlargement of a portion of FIGURE I and is anillustration of the assembly of the portions included in the explodedillustration of FIGURE II;

FIGURE V illustrates the start-up position and action with respect tothe structure of FIGURE IV;

FIGURE VI is an illustration of the close grouping of multiple inkpackets made possible by the structures of this invention;

FIGURE VII is an alternate structure of the ink packet supportingarrangement according to this invention;

FIGURE VIII illustrates a variation in ink packet design according tothis invention; and

FIGURE IX is a section of FIGURE VIII taken on line IX-IX of FIGUREVIII.

In FIGURE I, by way of illustration, a rotatable chart 3,140,912Patented July 14, 1 964 ice lull

10 is shown which is a part of a recorder such as used in industrialinstrumentation for the provision of permanent representation of aprocess variable such as pressure, temperature and the like. The chartIt is provided with movable pen arms 11 and 12 in any suitable mountingarrangement as is customary in devices of this nature. To the left ofthe chart, there is generally indicated an ink supply assembly 13 whichcomprises a mounting panel 14, a mounting block 15, mounting supportassembly 16 and ink packet 17.

In the exploded view of FIGURE II, the mounting panel 14 is indicated.This is usually an inner side wall of a recorder cabinet or housing,which contains the chart 10 of FIGURE I and other associated devicescustomarily provided therewith. The mounting panel 14 is customarilyvertical and in this instance, has established therein a cylindrical,horizontal pin 19 which is used as a pivot and a mounting and demountingdevice, as will be seen hereinafter. The pin is preferably rigid andfirmly mounted in the mounting panel 14.

As will be seen hereinafter, the mounting block 15 is readily detachablymounted on the pin 19; the support assembly 16 is, in turn, readilyremovably and pivotally mounted on the block 15, and the ink packet 17is readily and removably mounted on the support assembly 16. The supportassembly 16 may be duplicated and severally mounted on the block 15beside the first assembly in the event of a plurality of ink systems(note FIGURE VI).

Again in FIGURE II, the block 15 is preferably an essentiallyrectangular block made of polyethylene and formed with a transverseopening 20 therethrough for mounting the block 15 on the pin 19. Thefriction gripping action about the pin 19 from the relatively small hole20 in the polyethylene block will efiectively frictionally hold theblock in any desired position under the ordinary weights or pressuresinvolved in the support of the structure under ordinary staticconditions. However, in service operations, where it is desirable toremove the device from its operating attitude as in FIG- URE I, theblock 15 may be manually rotated about the pin 19 by applying twistingforce to the combination assembly of the block 15 and the supportassembly 16.

The polyethylene mounting block 15 is provided with a second transversehole as at 21 for mounting on the pin 19 when the bodies within arecorder necessitates a location adjustment of the block. Therefore, theblock may be placed on the pin 19 by means of either the pivot opening20 or the pivot opening 21.

Further, the block 15 is provided with a transverse pin 22 extendinglengthwise of the block and transversely of the pin 19 when mounted.Also, there are vertical slots 23 cut into the polyethylene block 15transversely of the pin 22 for the purpose of mounting the supportdevice in these slots and on the pin 22 as will be seen hereinafter.

The slots 23 are cut down through the polyethylene block 15 to exposeportions of the transverse pin 22 so that the'support member 16 may beinserted therein and hung upon the pin 22 in each of the respectiveslots 23. The member used to enter the slots as a portion of the supportmember 16 is a flat metal strip arm 24 of a thickness close to that ofthe transverse dimensions of the slots 23 so they are laterally slightlybound within these slots.

A notch 25 is provided in the upper portion of the support member arm 24for mounting on the pin 22 within the slots 23. The upper portion of thearm 24 is rounded as at 26 and with thisarrangement, the arm 24 may bereadily inserted into one of the slots 23 of the block 15 from below andat an outward angle so as to 3 slip upwardly inside and past thetransverse pin 22 to engage it with the notch 25 in an effective andstrong mounting relation when the arm 24 is thereafter pivoted intovertical position. Disassembly is accomplished by the reverse of thisaction, simply by pivoting the whole unit 16 about the transverse pin 22until the notch 25 is facing substantially upwards, so that the wholeassembly 16 may be dropped downward and pulled free of the block 15.Notches 18 are provided farther down the arm 24 on the inner edge, toprovide a choice of vertical locations of the support unit 16 on the pin22. This permits variation of the ink supply height as needed for inkflow in relation to pen height.

The universal movement provided in the overall device generallyestablished in FIGURE II is an important feature of this invention. Thatis to say, the block is pivotable about the pin 19, and the assembly 16is pivotable about the transverse pin 22 so that the overall possiblemovement of the support unit 16 is a universal movement of substantialconvenience, ease, and maneuverability for effective service, assembly,disassembly, inspection and other functions.

On the support unit 16, at the bottom portion of the flat arm 24, a baseis provided in the form of a horizontally extending dog leg 27 whichsupports a two-sided depending housing 28 with a back wall 29 steppedoff rearward as at 30 from the dog leg 27 and an end wall 31 with a tab32 essentially in place of the front wall, the whole providing anoverall housing or containment for the flexible ink packet 17. An inkpick-up pipe 34 is secured to the dog leg 27. This pipe extends downpast the dog leg 27 and into the ink packet 17 through a puncture point33 and is thus extended deeply into the ink packet. A form of the lowerend of this ink supply, pick-up pipe 34 is indicated in FIGURE III at34. This pipe end is formed by slicing the pipe end to a point andcrimping the two fingers thus formed, toward each other.

Again in FIGURE II, and in FIGURE IV, at the outer end of the dog leg27, whereas the ink pick-up pipe is at the inner area, there is a ventpipe 36 side-secured to the dog leg 27 and extended down within thecontainment of the unit 28 and into the flexible ink packet 17 through apuncture point 37. The puncture points are formed with downwardly,inwardly tapered sides ending in an easily punctured thin-wall membrane33 (see FIGURE III). The membranes have relatively small diameters withrespect to the pipes 34 and 36, and the ink packet 17 may be shoved upinto the containment of the unit 28 while being pierced by the pipes 34and 36 and is essentially suspended and held by the friction gripping ofthe pipe within the puncture points 33, 37. The side wall 31 and thefront tab 32 of the containment 28 locate the ink packet 17 and supportit laterally, however, there is sufficient strength in the holding ofthe polyethylene ink packet on the ink pick-up pipe 34 and the vent pipe36 to maintain the ink packet 17 in its operational relationship in thecontainment 28. The ink packet 17 extends laterally to the rightsubstantially beyond the backing plate 29 of the containment 28 so, inthis device, the backplate 29 may be placed flat against a member withina recorder housing such as a chart plate. The ink packet may thus extendout thereover and even over a portion of a rotating chart withoutinterfering with the rotation of the chart due to the spacing providedby the thickness of the backing plate 29.

Further with respect to FIGURE II, the ink pick-up pipe 34 continuesthrough suitable means to the recorder pen as indicated in FIGURE I bythe dotted line 34.

It should be noted in FIGURE 11 that the polyethylene ink packet 17 isthin and wide. Thus, the normal maximum ink level is such that fullpressure applied front to back on the ink packet 17 need not force theink wholly through the vent pipe 36.

The alternate structure of the ink packet as shown in FIGURES VIII and1X provides even greater assurance against accidental pressure forcingink from the packet through the vent. Additional thicknesses 17" of thepolyethylene ink packet is provided centrally at the normal points offinger squeezing pressure to prevent over-squeezing and undesirable inkspurts. The practical and useful dimensions of the ink packet 17 alsoallow the packets to be placed in side to side compact, simple,effective relation for a multiple supply and ink pen system.

FIGURE 1V is a full assembly of the exploded view of FIGURE 11 and likereference numerals have been applied to like elements.

In the start-up situation, as shown in FIGURE V, ink is caused to flowinto the pen by covering the vent with a finger and squeezing thepacket. Thus, starting is easy and sure, servicing is quick and simple.Inspection of the ink level is possible since the polyethylene inkpackets are translucent and the ink level may be seen therethrough. Inmost cases, there is a sufficiently large glass panel in the recorder sothat such visual inspection may be accomplished without opening the casedoor.

As shown in FIGURE VI, this arrangement is designed to accommodateseveral separate plug-in packets of ink which may be in differentcolors, in a standard form of recorder case, either in a rectangularcase or in a circular case, as may be desired.

Another feature of the mounting block 15 is that it, and the wholeassembly, may be removed quickly in order to disassemble the chartrecorder. Thus, the inking system may be mounted in a desirable locationfor its purposes without interfering with other functions since it canbe removed quickly and readily in order to reach other parts of thedevice.

FIGURE VII is a showing of a screw pivot as an alternate mounting ofthis invention. A support arm 38 is pivotally mounted on a fixed backing39 by means of a screw 40. The arm 38 may be made flexible so that thearm 33 may be lifted away from the backing 39 as well as being pivotableabout the screw 40. A top plate 41 is attached to the arm 38 and the inkpick-up pipe 34 and the vent pipe 36 are attached thereto. A clip-liketab 42 is attached to the arm 38 near the bottom thereof and serves as aguide for the placement of the ink packet 1'7. This alternate supportassembly is convenient for units where there is no space available forthe full inking assembly of FIGURE IV or when only a single ink supplyis wanted.

This invention, therefore, provides a new and improved ink supplysystem, especially one of compactness, convenience, easy and readyassembly and disassembly, and maneuverability.

As many embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as changesmay be made in the embodiments set forth above without departing fromthe scope of the invention, it is to be understood that all matterhereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. For use in an industrial instrumentation recorder wherein variablecondition value representations are penned on a moving chart and for usein an ink supply system of the character described for continuouslyproviding ink for said penning action, a recording ink supply packetcomprising a narrow, flexible casing having wall thickness relief forpuncturing by ink passage and vent means, the casing thickness to volumeratio being established to make possible full squeezing of said casingon a normal fill basis without ink loss through said vent, through theprovision of an air space in said casing at normal fill, with said airspace of greater volume than the volume change produced by said fullsqueezing.

2. An ink supply system of the character described for chart recorderscomprising a mounting device for receiving tapered end tubings as inkpassage and vent means, and a flexible, ink packet with wall thicknessrelief for penetration by said tapered ends of said tubings, said packetformed with an inner volume of substantial width and small depth,whereby squeezing said packet to its full depth may be accomplished,under normal fill basis Without causing ink to pass through said vent.

3. An ink supply system for chart recorders comprising a universalmovement mounting device for receiving tapered end tubings as inkpassage and vent means, and a flexible ink packet with wall thicknessrelief for penetration by said tapered ends of said tubings, said packetformed with an inner volume of substantial width and small depth,whereby squeezing said packet to its full depth may be accomplishedunder a normal fill basis without causing ink to pass through said vent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSLindemann Apr. 30, Krahulec Oct. 11, Keiter Sept. 7, Cannon July 23,Holloway Jan. 21, Weingart et al. May 3, Whiteley Feb. 28, Summers etal. July 24,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Jan. 30,

1. FOR USE IN AN INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTATION RECORDER WHEREIN VARIABLECONDITION VALUE REPRESENTATIONS ARE PENNED ON A MOVING CHART AND FOR USEIN AN INK SUPPLY SYSTEM OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED FOR CONTINUOUSLYPROVIDING INK FOR SAID PENNING ACTION, A RECORDING INK SUPPLY PACKETCOMPRISING A NARROW, FLEXIBLE CASING HAVING WALL THICKNESS RELIEF FORPUNCTURING BY INK PASSAGE AND VENT MEANS, THE CASING THICKNESS TO VOLUMERATIO BEING ESTABLISHED TO MAKE POSSIBLE FULL SQUEEZING OF SAID CASINGON A NORMAL FILL BASIS WITHOUT INK LOSS THROUGH SAID VENT,